What is more fun than watching kids celebrate being the stars of a Strawberry Festival parade??? Our Grand Parade can be a bit much for some of our younger fans to participate in, and that is what makes our Junior Parade the perfect choice for making them feel like rock-stars! A long standing Lebanon tradition, the Junior Parade makes for the ultimate excuse for an early release from school to rush down to Main St with those decorated bikes and wagons, or small floats! With a much shorter parade route (around a half mile versus our Grand Parade's 2.5 miles), the Junior Parade is a perfect fit for even the smallest tykes! And with a parade geared towards kids, our parade participants know that candy is the ticket to pleasing our young spectators, so they are sure to have plenty on hand for passing out! And if that isn't enough to entice you to come down and join in the festivities of the Junior Parade, swing by the old Vinnie's parking lot on 2nd and Maple right after the parade concludes and visit our Strawberry Festival Princesses! They will be passing out complimentary popsicles to all of our Junior Parade participants. It is the perfect way to wrap up celebrating our community's youth! The Junior Parade is short and sweet, and perfect for an audience of all ages! So come early and claim your perfect candy collecting spot along Main St, or try your hand at decorating a bike to fit our year's unique theme. We wouldn't want you to miss this!
Being in the Strawberry Festival Junior Parade is a great way to get kids of all ages involved in a community event, build confidence in themselves, and start them at a young age to have pride in their community and to be a part of something special! They feel like the stars of the show--and they are! Registration forms will go out to the local schools, the Chamber of Commerce, and can be obtained through the "Entry Form" link as well. Make sure your registration form is signed so you can be a part of this great event! Staging begins at 12:00 at 5th and Rose (Boys & Girls Club) and on Rose st., and judging is from 1:00-2:00. Whether you want to decorate a bicycle, be a part of a walking group, or put together a float to represent your school, there is always room for you in our Junior Parade and we hope to see you there!
If you would like to participate in the Junior Parade, but don't want to be in the parade... Consider serving as a volunteer! Our Junior Parade team is always looking for smiling faces to help direct kids where to line up, to judge our entries, and just help out wherever possible. Volunteering is a great way to give back to our community, and share in our youth's special day at the fair. For more information about the Junior Parade, or to find out more about helping out with the event, contact our Junior Parade team.
PARADE ROUTE: The Junior Parade begins at 2nd and Rose (staging along Rose and in the Boys and Girls Club parking lot) and ends at 2nd and Maple. Popsicles will be handed out at 2nd and Maple in the old Vinnie's parking lot.